Red Bull just might have pulled off the most hilarious (and potentially embarrassing) blunder in recent F1 promotional history! Imagine launching a slick new video showcasing your team's fresh apparel, only to have eagle-eyed fans spot a HUGE mistake... We're talking about a mistake that might even hint at some underlying tensions within the racing world.
So, what happened? Red Bull Racing, like all F1 teams gearing up for the new season, has been busy creating promotional content to get fans hyped. This included unveiling their striking new livery for the 2026 season. Along with the livery, they released a video highlighting the team's new black-and-blue teamwear. Familiar faces like Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, Gianpiero Lambiase, and Laurent Mekies were all sporting the new gear. All standard promotional fare, right? But here's where it gets controversial...
The promotional video included a rapid-fire montage of photos, flashing back to Verstappen's past victories and showcasing rendered images of the new RB22 car. And it was during this rapid sequence that fans noticed something glaringly wrong. The number displayed on Verstappen's RB22 wasn't the number '3,' which he's slated to drive next season. Instead, it was the number '1' – the number he proudly displayed as the reigning world champion in previous seasons.
Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, so what? A simple oversight, right?" But this is Formula 1, where every detail is meticulously scrutinized. And this is the part most people miss... Verstappen isn't entitled to use the number '1' anymore. Why? Because Lando Norris clinched the championship in 2025, and as the newly crowned champion, he rightfully claimed the coveted number '1' for the upcoming season. That's his prerogative as the reigning champion, a tradition that goes back many years. It's a symbol of ultimate achievement in the sport.
So, how did this footage slip through the cracks? Was it a genuine mistake by the Red Bull media team? Or, and this is where it gets really interesting, was it a subtle (or not so subtle) tease directed at McLaren and Lando Norris? Some fans speculate it could be a playful jab, a reminder of Verstappen's past dominance, even if he's no longer the reigning champion. The longer version of the video on YouTube has since been updated, replacing the offending images with corrected versions of the RB22 sporting the number '3'. This suggests that, at the very least, Red Bull acknowledged the error and moved to rectify it.
Regardless of the intent, the brief appearance of the number '1' on Verstappen's car certainly sparked a buzz on social media. Check out the original video (around the 0:30 mark) to see the gaffe for yourself!
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So, what do you think? Was this a harmless mistake, or a calculated move by Red Bull? Could there be some underlying tension between Red Bull and McLaren following Norris's championship win? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
